Premiership Betting Review - 26 February 2006

Manchester United are the 2005/06 Carling Cup winners following a 4-0 demolition of Wigan Athletic at the Millennium Stadium. United, as short as 8/13 on the day, took the lead after 32 minutes through Wayne Rooney but it was a three goals in six minutes salvo in the second half that devastated outsiders Wigan. Louis Saha netted after 54 minutes, Cristiano Ronaldo on 58 and Rooney again on the hour to win the Cup in emphatic fashion.

With United not playing in the Premiership this weekend, Chelsea extended their lead at the top to 15 points with an expected victory over Portsmouth. The Blues were overwhelming favourites at 1/6 and did not disappoint short-odds backers with second half goals from Frank Lampard and Arjen Robben to win the match 2-0.

Liverpool drew level on points with Manchester United but remain third after a 1-0 win against Manchester City on Sunday. Harry Kewells goal five minutes before the break was enough to secure all three points for the 8/15 Reds.

Arsenals dire away form in the Premiership continued as they lost 1-0 at Blackburn Rovers. The 5/4 Gunners will have attracted a lot of punting interest, however, it was 21/10 Rovers that took the points after Morten Gamst Pedersens decisive goal. The result saw Blackburn leapfrog Arsenal into fifth place while condemning them to their eighth away defeat of the season.

Birmingham City are within touching distance of safety after a vital win against Sunderland. Even though prior to the match the Blues had won just three games all season at St. Andrews, plenty will have ploughed into the 7/10 odds and Emile Heskey headed in the winner after 39 minutes.

In another crunch relegation battle, Middlesbrough edged themselves closer to safety but piled on more pressure on West Bromwich Albion after winning 2-0 at the Hawthorns. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbainks goals on 17 and 44 was enough to seal victory at tasty 9/5 odds.

Caretaker manager Glenn Roeder made it three wins in four matches for 11/10 Newcastle with a 2-0 victory against Everton. Two goals from Nolberto Solano after 64 and 76 minutes saw Everton lose their first match since December 28.

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